Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to lead people who are blind and visually impaired around obstacles. They are not pets & are working on keeping their human safe!
Image description: Cartoon of a man in a red shirt, blue slacks and brown shoes holding the handle of a harness of his yellow guide dog. They are outside. The dog answers his cell phone and says “I told you not to call me at work, Denise.”
Image by Scott Metzger Cartoons.
Have you heard about Amazon Alexa’s new Show and Tell feature? It was developed to help customers recognize household pantry items, such as cans, spices and boxed goods that feel similar to other items and are difficult to identify by touch. Check out this article to find out more about this handy tech tool!
Art Therapy is incorporated into several of our programs. Find out more about the benefits of art therapy here.
One of the classes we offer is Clay Creations, designed to teach the basics of hand-building with clay. Students learn techniques and implements for creating unique pieces, they have an avenue for creative expression, they learn to use their tactile senses, and have a chance to connect with others who have similar interests.
Image description: A woman is seated at a table. Only her torso, arms and hands are visible. She is wearing a black and white, paisley patterned long-sleeve blouse. She has a ring on her left ring finger. She is molding a bowl out of grey clay with her hands. The clay sits on a square of fabric, that has a pattern comprised of red, light grey and pink half-circles. An empty purple and white cup is by the woman’s left hand.
Tech Tuesday find: bionic glasses that may restore vision to some people who are blind!
Bionic Glasses are said to work on patients who still have most of the pathways that enable sight intact — except for their photoreceptors. Photoreceptors are responsible for sending signals to special cells in the back of the eye, which then relay that information via the optic nerve to the brain.
Thus, bionic glasses may become the solution for returning sight to those with macular degeneration and retinal detachment, disorders that cause the destruction of the photoreceptors, but leave the rest of the sensory pathway in tact.
See more in this article!
The WeWALK is an innovative white cane, designed to make navigation safer for people who have are blind or have low vision. GPS- and voice technology-enabled, the cane can tell users what’s around them, and warn them about objects at head and body level, not just the ground. Learn more about the WeWalk device here.
Health and wellness check! Eye exams are important for maintaining overall health. If you notice your eyesight changing, you should go get a check-up immediately.
Whether you have full sight, limited vision, or are blind, you should still get an annual eye exam to ensure you don’t have any infections, eye damage or underlying illnesses that could either worsen your vision, cause blindness, or weaken your immune system.